Folding iron



Oct. 30, 1945. E. J. FITZGERALD 2,388,133

' v FOLDING IRON Filed Nov. 18, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l awe/mm I -TWIIHM far mp 1117720157410 3 9 E. J. FITZGERALD 4 2,388,133

FOLDING IRON Filed Nov. 18, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a mam/bow [aw/1RD 111712063410 Patented Oct. 30, 1945 umrso I STATES PATENT OFFICE Edward J. Fitzgerald, Winsted,

Son-Chief Electrics, Incorporated,

Conn., assignor to Winsted,

Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application November 18, 1943, Serial No. 510,794 3 Claims. (01. 219-25) The instant invention relates to fiatirons and more particularly to an electrioflatiron having a hinged or foldable handle so as to facilitate packing the iron into a small space as when traveling or in packaging the same.

One of the primary objects of the invention is the construction of a fiatiron of the type indicated with the handle hinged at its rear end and unsupported at its front end, the operative support for the handle being a lever pivoted forwardly of the pin of the handle hinge.

Still another aim is the manufacture of a flatiron as specified above in which the lever is held in place and the handle in operative position by the plug of the appliance cord, so that both the lever and handle are capable of pivotal movement only upon removal of the plug.

Yet another purpose is the makin of a flatiron which is of low, flat design; which is efiicient in use, and formed of but few parts and is relatively cheap to manufacture.

The above and other aims and objects will be apparent from the detailed description hereinafter appearing when taken in conjunction with the appended drawings showing a preferred embodiment of the invention and in which Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, partly broken away, showing the fiatiron with an appliance plug operatively connected thereto and the iron handle in operative position for use;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the structure of Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the locking lever;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view similar to Figure l, but with the appliance plug removed, the locking lever in inoperative position, and the handle folded to rest on the base;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing another position the locking lever may assume;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 'l--'I of Figure 6; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary top plan View of theappliance plug socket and the seat for the head of the locking lever.

The electric iron is generally designated as A and comprises as its essential features a relatively flat base B, a handle H, hinged to the base and a pivoted locking lever L. Base B may be made of separable upper and lower flanged plates Ill and II, respectively, said plates being appropriately shaped and forming a pocket therebetween to receive the electric resistance coils for heating the iron in a manner forming no part material such as wood, plastic socket, the latter being of a of the instant invention, The handle H is solid and as conventional is made of some insulating or the like and comprises a forward portion l2, a lower or under portion l3 having an undulating surface I4 forming spaced recesses l5 for receiving the fingers of the hand of the user to afford a firm gripping area when the handle is grasped. Rear portion 16 of the handle is outwardly flared and enlarged as at H and has an angularly disposed flat base l8. Secured to the latter is one plate IQ of a hinge 20 having a horizontally disposed hinge pin 2|, the other plate 22 of hinge 20 being fixed to the upper surface of plate l0 adjacent the rear end thereof. that handle H is capable of pivotal movement toward and away from base B about hinge pin 2| as an axis.

Locking lever L, as best seen in Figs. 3 and 4, includes a supporting base comprising a horizontal plate member 23 having a pair of spaced ears 24, 25 extending vertically from the opposed sides thereof. The lever proper designated as 23 is a substantially rectangular plate and has a pair of opposed pintles 21, 28, pivotally supported in ears 24, 25, respectively, of lever base 23.

Adjacent the upper end thereof lever 26 is provided with a pair of inwardly extending opposed notches 29, 3B and a forwardly projecting semi-circular head 3|, all for a purpose to be shortly described. A nut-equipped threaded stud 32 in base 23 operatively secures locking lever L to base plate In just forwardly of hinge 20 as will be clearly seen in Figs. 1, 5 and 6.

Enlarged rear portion [6 of the handle H has a vertical through opening or socket 33 and a curved wall portion 34 partially defining said size and shape to receive the electric appliance plug 35 at one end of a current-carrying cord 36 adapted to be connected to a current outlet in the usual manner. Portion I6 is further cut away forwardly of opening 33 as at 31, the latter having a seat 38 near the upper portion thereof, and seat 38 comprising a pair of inwardly extending spaced ledges 39 and 40, slightly below the upper surface of the handle, see Figure 3.

In the operative position of the fiatiron A, the lever 26 is inserted into the plug opening or socket 33 and swung forwardly or to the left as seen in Figure 1 on pintles 21 and 28 to receive the ledges 39 and 40 in notches 29 and 30 thereof, respectively, whereby head 31 of the lever 26 will be positioned in the depressed seat 38, and the handle'H supported by the lever in the position It will now be understood.

shown in Figure 1. When plug 36 is inserted into socket 33 the lever 26 will be inhibited from swinging rearwardly and the handle will remain in proper operative position for use of the electric iron so long'as the plug is not removed.

Upon withdrawal of the plug from socket 33, however, lever 26 may be swung rearwardly to assume the position shown in Figure 5 whereby the forward jportion I2 of handle vH will swing downwardly on its hinge and rest on base plate 10. The flatiron A will now occupy a smaller space and is in condition for packaging or for insertion into a travelling bag or the like. In

the position of the lever shown in Figure 5, the head 3| of said lever prevents :handle H from swinging about its hinge. In Figure 6 there :is shown another position which lever 26 may assume.

From the above, it will be apparent that there has been disclosed and described an electric fiatiron fully commensurate with the various aims and objects hereinbefore set forth. Although the description is detailed, changes in the specific features will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and it is contemplated to cover all such and to be limited in this respect as may be necessary by the scope of the claims hereto appended.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An electric flatiron comprising a, base adapted to contain a heating coil, a handle hinged to said base adjacent one end thereof, said handle having an appliance plug receiving socket at its hinged end, a locking lever for said handle pivoted to the base and extending into said socket, said lever being immovably held in said socket upon insertion of the appliance plug into the :latter.

2. An electric flatiron comprising a base, a handle having a plug-receiving socket hinged to said base, a pivoted locking lever for said handle extending into said socket, said handle and lever being immovable upon insertion of said plug within said socket.

8. An 'electric' flatiron comprising a base, a handle having a plug-receiving socket hinged to said base, a pivoted locking lever for said handle extending into said socket to hold said handle in operative position, said handle being locked in the latter position upon insertion of said plug within said socket.

EDWARD J. FITZGERALD. 

